The non-lobbying loophole

ryanteaguebeckwith — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 09:12:37 -0400

Lobbyists do not have to report when they have signed other contracts with clients.

Under state law, lobbyists must tell the Secretary of State how much they are being paid to argue a special interest's cause before the legislature.

But they do not have to disclose any secondary contracts for political consulting, Web page design or other non-lobbying work.

George Jeter, a spokesman for the secretary's office, said that is not supposed to be a loophole for special interests to compensate lobbyists for their lobbying work beyond the reported amount.

"No matter what ANY such work is called, if the real intent is to compensate the person for lobbying, then it is lobbying and has to be reported," Jeter wrote in an e-mail to Dome.

Any lobbyist signing such a contract could risk an investigation, but until then the Secretary of State would have no record of the payments.

"We do not keep track of such work, since it does not have to be reported," Jeter wrote.

Hat Tip: N.C. Spin

newsobserver.com projects - The non-lobbying loophole - Comments

The non-lobbying loophole